Ochsner and Saints leading charge for this year’s Lemonade Day
NEW ORLEANS – Over 6,000 youth from Greater New Orleans, the Northshore, and Lafourche Parish are expected to participate in the second annual Lemonade Day on Saturday, May 5.
Ochsner Health System President and COO Warner Thomas, Audubon Nature Institute Executive Vice President Karyn Kearney, Georges Enterprises CEO John Georges, First NBC President and CEO Ashton Ryan were joined by National Lemonade Day President Julie Eberly, the Saintsations, New Orleans Saints Mascot Gumbo, and dozens of youth to announce the official kick-off of Greater New Orleans Lemonade Day on May 5. In addition to Thomas and Kearney serving as this year’s City Champions for Lemonade Day, Saints Owner Rita Benson LeBlanc will once again serve as a celebrity spokesperson for this year’s program.
Lemonade Day is a free, community wide program that fosters entrepreneurship and character development among Greater New Orleans’ youth by supporting them in establishing and operating their own lemonade businesses. Young entrepreneurs are provided with a free backpack which contains detailed support materials, such as an Entrepreneur Workbook, Marketing Tips, and Caring Adult Guide, to help them establish their lemonade stand. These “lemonaders” are advised to spend a little, save a little and share a little, donating a portion of their proceeds to a local charity of their choice. After covering their expenses and paying back their investors, children are encouraged to open a youth savings account. Registration is free and all youngsters are encouraged to participate.
“At Ochsner, we believe in the philosophy “Change the Kids, Change the Future.” It’s a commitment to the wellness of our community that extends past physical fitness to one of preparing the whole child to reach his or her full potential,” said Thomas. “That’s why I am proud to serve as a City Champion along with Karyn Kearney of Audubon Nature Institute.”
On Saturday, May 5, everyone has an important job to do by either buying or selling lemonade. The entire Greater New Orleans community is encouraged to purchase lemonade from the many stands that will be set-up throughout the area.
“Lemonade Day is such a powerful and useful program that will have a lasting impact on our youth for many years to come.” said Georges. “I am once again challenging the entire Greater New Orleans area to get involved and help us open over 6,000 new businesses on Lemonade Day.”
“I always say that I don’t have a job, I have a passion. Raising Cane’s support Lemonade Day because we want every child to have the skills they need to find their passion and turn it into a successful business,” said Todd Graves, founder and CEO of Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers. “By instilling the basics of business in our children today, we ensure that our children and community have a bright future.”
Over 20 corporate sponsors which includes: BlueCross BlueShield of Louisiana, Bruno & Bruno, Entergy, First NBC Bank, Galatoire’s Foundation, Humana, Iberia Bank, Liberty Bank, New Orleans Living Magazine, the New Orleans Saints, Peoples Health, Rotolo’s, Rouses, UnitedHealthcare, Veteran’s Ford, and Whitney Bank as well as over 42 partners including the New Orleans Hornets, Mayor Ronnie Harris and the City of Gretna, Afterschool Partnership, Maison Jarden Assisted Living, Lemonade Brigade, Bourgeois Bennett CPA's & Consultants, Boy Scouts of America (Southeast Louisiana Council), Central City Partnership, Citizens for One Greater New Orleans, Communities in Schools, Court Watch NOLA, Directed Initiatives for Youth/Excite All Stars, Dryades YMCA, East Jefferson YMCA, Families and Friends of Louisiana’s Incarcerated Children, Franco’s, West St. Tammany YMCA, Freret Neighborhood Center, Freshy Foods, Idea Village, Healthy Lifestyle Choices, Jefferson Chamber of Commerce, Stone Creek Club and Spa, Junior League, Urban League of New Orleans, New Orleans Chamber of Commerce, Louisiana Appleseed, New Orleans Outreach, Partnership for Youth Development, PlayNOLA, Playville, STAIR, Ur Way Yogurt and Coffee Bar, Whole Foods, Youth Empowerment Project, Junior Achievement, Audubon Nature Institute, the Louisiana Children’s Museum, the Young Leadership Council, Kids Wanna Help, Batiste Cultural Arts Academy, NOSACONN - Arts and Music in the Afternoon, Hermann-Grima House, NFL YET New Orleans Boys and Girls club, the American Heart Association, WWL-TV Channel 4, ClearChannel Radio, Fox 8, Gambit, Entercom, The New Orleans Tribune, WBOK Am 1230, Mid-City Neighborhood Catalog, Renaissance Publishing, Data News Weekly, WYES, Sylvain Solutions, Spears Consulting Group, and Diane Allen & Associates have teamed up with Georges Enterprises, Ochsner Health System, and Raising Cane’s to once again bring Lemonade Day to Greater New Orleans on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
Over 5,000 youth across South Louisiana participated in last year’s program. Thousands of lemonade stands were set-up throughout Greater New Orleans. These young entrepreneurs donated thousands of dollars to charity. Greater New Orleans is one of over 43 cities in the U.S. to participate in Lemonade Day.
For a complete list of sponsors and partners, to sign up or learn about ways to get involved in Lemonade Day, please visit www.neworleans.lemonadeday.org. For information about sponsorships, partnerships or donations, please contact Lemonade Day City Director Dana Hansel at (504) 710-3866 or danahansel@cox.net. Registration for this year’s program has begun.
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